Indigenous artist Sylken Smith is the youngest creator whose work is on display at the Ishpendaagaabwi: Standing With Pride art show in Georgetown.
The 12-year-old currently has two works on display at the Helson Gallery. One is titled Teeth – showing a figure that's smiling from ear to ear, teeth front and centre. The other is called Arms Outreached – of a human form with its arms spread as though for a hug.
She told HaltonHillsToday that her inspiration came from the “lack of colour” around her and that she wanted to do “something energy-consuming.”
“These bursts of energy come from colourless, detailess rooms,” Smith said, adding that her classroom is one such room.
“When I first created the art, it had no message. Both of the pieces were made when I had no expectations of what the art should look like or what the end result would be.”
She enjoys “having that sort of freedom” in her art and feels it's what "really gives it life.”
Smith is one of many artists whose works are on display at the showcase of Indigenous creativity. The exhibit celebrates the enduring resilience of Canada’s First Nations as well as their culture and their stories.
The Helson partnered with the Mississaugas of the Credit – with help from Councillor Erma Ferrell of the Mississaugas’ council, who facilitated the relationship – to bring the show to Georgetown.
Kate Dalton is one of the other artists being featured in Ishpendaagaabwi. She has two works in the show - one is a photograph of a drag performer with the title Tygr Willy and the other consists of several linocut prints forming one work called Space Between and Doorway Series.
“I love watching people move through lights,” Dalton said, referring to Tygr Willy. “That becomes a really simple way for me to see them - very literally, but in a metaphorical sense of that as well. Their movement is deeply marked in my work.”
Space Between, Dalton says in her artist’s statement, “is a study of space grief carves out in the land that connects us to spirit.”
She used the technique of linocut printing – an image carved into linoleum to create, in simple terms, a stamp onto which ink is applied – to create a nature scene with many linear patterns forming a larger image.
The Doorway Series is a group of four doors with unique patterns inside them to explore “form within boundaries,” as said in a plaque next to the work.
But the show is not limited to the conventional gallery fair of art on walls. Culture and history are examined through a ribbon dress hanging on a mannequin prominently in one corner. Several wampum belts are also on display from the history of the Mississaugas, each accompanied by information to educate the attendees about their meaning and story.
“We tried to do a mix of both [history and art]. We want to make art the focal point, but we try to add in some historical elements,” Helson curator Kara Bruce explained.
“We have a lot of pieces that talk about reconciliation. We have specifically one that talks about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls; that's such a strong, powerful message when you come in there. So I was impressed to see those artists already took on demonstrating those key issues."
On Nov. 2, Darin Wybenga - educator and traditional knowledge and land use coordinator for the Mississaugas - will be doing a talk starting at 1:30 p.m. Wybenga also wrote the booklets that explain the meaning and history behind the wampum belts.
Ishpendaagaabwi: Standing With Pride in on at the Helson Gallery until Nov. 10.
The Helson is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m on Sunday.
More details on the show are on the Town of Halton Hills’ website.
